Histological Containment System with Cover Pad

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a cover pad for a histological container having an inclined shelf for a planar support with a histological sample coupled to a topside of the planar support and a cover pad over the planar support. The cover pad is generally planar with flow guiding surfaces that intersect downward flowing fluids deposited on the planar support. A spreader surface on the cover pad disperses fluids toward the cover pad sides. The spreader surface can be angled upward, as a convex curve, to direct impinging fluids along the angled surface toward the sides. Side flow guides intersect the spreader surface angle and smoothly flow the sideways directed fluids into a vertical space between the cover pad and the planar support. Side flow bars extend longitudinally upward above the side flow guides and assist in retaining fluids onto the planar support before the fluids engage the side flow guides.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A histological containment system comprising a cover pad to be placed on a planar support with a histological sample on a topside of the planar support, the planar support being placed on a container shelf, the cover pad comprising:
 a flow surface ( 26 ) formed on an underside of the cover pad ( 12 ) when the cover pad is installed over the planar support ( 14 ) and facing the topside of the planar support;   a spreader surface ( 20 ) on a top portion ( 34 ) of the cover pad and configured to direct fluids toward sides of the cover pad; and   a side flow bar ( 18 ) disposed toward at least one side of the cover pad, the side flow bar configured to restrain fluids along the spreader surface from flowing off the planar support ( 14 ) past the side flow bar.   
     
     
         2 . The histological containment system of  claim 1 , further comprising a side flow guide ( 22 ) toward the at least one side of the cover pad that intersects the spreader surface toward the side and the side flow bar toward the side and configured to direct fluids flowing toward the side along the spreader surface to flow under the cover pad and flow over the planar support disposed under the cover pad. 
     
     
         3 . The histological containment system of  claim 1 , further comprising a spacing strip ( 32 ) on the at least one side of the cover pad and configured to create a space ( 38 ) between the cover pad and the planar support under the cover pad. 
     
     
         4 . The histological containment system of  claim 1 , wherein the spreader surface is curved toward the top portion of the cover pad and sloping away from the top portion toward the sides of the cover pad. 
     
     
         5 . The histological containment system of  claim 1 , further comprising a layer ( 48 ) of hydrophobic material formed on an outward surface ( 48 ) of the cover pad. 
     
     
         6 . A histological containment system comprising a cover pad to be placed on a planar support with a histological sample on a topside of the planar support, the planar support being placed on a container shelf, the cover pad comprising:
 a flow surface ( 26 ) on an underside of the cover pad facing the topside of the planar support; and   a spreader surface ( 20 ) on a top portion ( 34 ) of the cover pad and configured to direct fluids toward sides of the cover pad to distribute flow across the surface of the planar support under the cover pad.   
     
     
         7 . The histological containment system of  claim 6 , further comprising a spacing strip ( 32 ) on the at least one side of the cover pad and configured to create a space ( 38 ) between the cover pad and the planar support under the cover pad. 
     
     
         8 . The histological containment system of  claim 6 , wherein the spreader surface ( 20 ) is curved toward the top portion of the cover pad and sloping away from the top portion toward the sides of the cover pad. 
     
     
         9 . The histological containment system of  claim 6 , wherein the cover pad ( 12 ) comprises a shape of a parallelepiped with dimensions x,y,z, where x represents the longest edge, y represents the medium-length edge, and z represents the shortest edge, further comprising two parallel spacing strips ( 32 ) formed on an underside ( 30 ) of the cover pad along the x edges, and wherein a y edge is chamfered at least partially across the y edge to form a spreader surface ( 20 ) to direct flow of a fluid under the cover pad. 
     
     
         10 . The histological containment system of  claim 9 , wherein the spreader surface ( 20 ) is fully across the y edge. 
     
     
         11 . The histological containment system of  claim 9 , further comprising a layer ( 48 ) of hydrophobic material formed on an outward surface ( 44 ) of the cover pad. 
     
     
         12 . The histological containment system of  claim 6 , further comprising a layer ( 48 ) of hydrophobic material formed on an outward surface ( 48 ) of the cover pad. 
     
     
         13 . A histological containment system comprising a cover pad ( 12 ) to be placed on a planar support ( 14 ) with a histological sample on a topside ( 44 ) of the planar support, the planar support being placed on a shelf ( 6 ) in a container ( 4 ), the cover pad comprising a shape of a parallelepiped with dimensions x,y,z, where x represents the longest edge, y represents the medium-length edge, and z represents the shortest edge, further comprising two parallel spacing strips ( 32 ) formed on an underside ( 30 ) of the cover pad along the x edges, and wherein a y edge is chamfered at least partially across the y edge to form a spreader surface ( 20 ) to direct flow of a fluid under the cover pad. 
     
     
         14 . The histological containment system of  claim 13 , wherein the spreader surface ( 20 ) is fully across the y edge. 
     
     
         15 . The histological containment system of  claim 13 , further comprising a layer ( 48 ) of hydrophobic material formed on an outward surface ( 44 ) of the cover pad. 
     
     
         16 . A method of processing a histological sample, comprising:
 placing a cover pad ( 12 ) over a planar support ( 14 ) having a sample ( 16 ) mounted on the planar support;   depositing one or more fluids on the planar support that flow over the planar support and under the cover pad across the sample to create a histological staining pattern on the sample; and   flowing a mounting medium over the planar support and under the cover pad.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , comprising iteratively repeating at least depositing the one or more fluids on the planar support. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising imaging the sample directly through the cover pad. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising curing the mounting medium to produce a permanent mounting of the sample. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the curing comprising applying an ultraviolet light to the mounting medium.